Kara Mustafa
Retreating from the gates of Wien,
capital of empire holy, Roman,
Kara Mustafa next was seen
in Belgrade. Like a woman
degendered by defeat he raised
no skirt to show his legs but beard,
exposing to the ones who gazed.
his throat. Though other men have feared
their executioners, Mustafa
presented to the silk garotte
his skin just like an orange Jaffa
ready to be peeled. The knot
was tied around his neck, he died,
and dying thus proved heroic
that in his life. Mustafa sighed,
but laughed, because he died a stoic,
to the executioner presenting
with ease, without complaint, a throat
that never wasted time lamenting
his fortune, though scaped like a goat.
Inspired by a review of “The Enemy at the Gate” by Andrew Wheatcroft, reviewed by Eric Ormsby in the NYT Book Review on June 14,2009 (“Empires in Collision: In the 17th century, Habsburgs and Ottomans clashed over the city of Vienna”) :
Wheatcroft, the author of several earlier books on both Habs¬burgs and Ottomans, states that he set out here to portray the Ottoman “face of battle, ” borrowing a phrase from the classic work by John Keegan, and in this he succeeds; his narrative is thrilling as well as thoughtful, a rare combination. Even so, a subtle imbalance prevails. The Ottomans inspired dread in their enemies; fear was part of their arsenal. But, as Wheatcroft repeatedly demonstrates, the Habsburgs were fearsome too, and perhaps even crueler than their opponents, engaging not only in full-scale massacres but in flayings, beheadings and impalements. Perhaps because Wheatcroft hasn’t drawn on Ottoman Turkish sources, his Ottomans, for all his skill at depicting them, appear oddly imperturbable. After Kara Mustafa’s debacle before the walls of Vienna, he retreated to Belgrade; there, on Christmas Day 1683, he greeted the sultan’s executioners, kneeling with “stoic Ottoman calm, ” and even courteously lifting his beard to expose his throat to the silk garrote. The story is legendary, and Wheatcroft recounts it well. Still, here as elsewhere, we’d like to hear the fierce heart beating beneath the legend.
6/17/09
poem by Gershon Hepner
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Related quotes
The Battle Of Lepanto Ottomans Defeats
Holy League on 7 October 1571 attacks;
wins a crushing victory over Ottoman fleet
at the Battle of Lepanto Ottomans defeats;
off tide turning western Greek coast;
decisively defeated Ottoman mighty main fleet
of Ottoman Empire in fierce five hours;
of fighting on northern edge of Gulf of Patras;
off fate western Greece Ottoman invasion forces
were from naval station Lepanto sailing westwards;
engaged from Messina Holy League fleet;
quick sand history on this victory turns
Mediterranean Sea Holy League prevents;
becoming an open uncontested sea route;
for Muslim forces; from major Ottoman invasion
Italy protects; prevents conquest Ottomans;
advancing further into exposed southern;
flank of Europe victory Lepanto was the last
major naval battle in contest Mediterranean;
fought entirely between diced empire galleys;
great symbolic importance appropriately assigned
to an empires altering decisive naval defeat;
upon signing of peace treaty in 1573 fate turns;
victorious Holy League is incredibly disbanded
axed a short time after unity Pope Pius V died.
Extract from the poem ‘Mediterranean Colonisation Wars Left Legacy Seeds'.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Time Displaced Empires Conflict Expire
Byzantium Byzantine Empire survives;
to be time displaced Islam at greatest extent?
Arab Empire this region controlled 75%.
Europe dark Middle Ages slowly recovers;
Renaissance rebirth of 12th century leads
after centuries to European new aspirations?
Naval prowess of growing European powers?
Forced flexes muscles Ottoman Empire confronts
halts further rapid Ottoman Empire expansions?
European Catholic maritime states;
a coalition of southern Mediterranean
a Holy League fleet in 1571assembles?
Illustrious members were the Papal States;
Habsburg states of Spain Sicily Naples;
Republic of Venice Republic of Genoa mobilizes;
Grand Duchy of Tuscany the Duchies
of Savoy Parma Urbino pledged prepares;
Knights of Malta all will fight Ottomans?
50,000 infantry 200 galleys 100 other ships;
4,500 cavalry adequate artillery too late...
too late assembled defense Holy League fleet?
Venetian defenders of island Cyprus;
in July 1570 were attacked by Ottomans
invaded by conquering Ottoman forces?
Too late to aid Cyprus prevent island's;
capture by conquest Islamic Ottomans
Holy League waited too long perhaps?
Who failed to assemble which powerful allies?
Holy Roman Empire their truce with Istanbul kept?
France honoured anti-Spanish alliance with Ottomans?
Mighty Portugal could spare no forces;
in ongoing maritime confrontations...
was heavily engaged with rival Ottomans;
in both the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean;
proud Portugal had Reconquista fought...
539 years its Moroccan campaign now fights.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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First Encounter - Mustafa Noor (Malaysia)
mustafa noor
he carries the theatre
with him
mustafa noor
i heard the london
that applauds
mustafa noor
the air charged with
his art and friendliness
mustafa noor
a voice made for
theatre arts
mustafa noor
his eyes roll with
his london experience
mustafa noor
i join the excitement
of his london experience
met in the early 1980s. He was just back from London and had strong ambitions to activate the theatre world in the city that is Kuala Lumpur.
poem by John Tiong Chunghoo
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Secular God
Secular, pertaining to the present world,
to things not spiritual or ecclesiastical,
earthly life, a particular time, temporal,
lasting, occurring in and accomplished
within a century, such a very short time!
Atatürk. Legendary Atatürk.
Source silhouette sustaining; noble wonder.
Atatürk legitimately stood stallion.
Among histories legendary; as a great leader.
Yet if Atatürk. In reality
was embodied God!
The Turkish Nation
Statue Worships States!
Why did he often drink alone?
Day through narcotic night!
Fallen to such a common fate?
Because a man for all that!
Feats required as resolute
Nation-Maker!
Are in themselves in truth
emphasis enough!
Without serving up sermon
ritualistic Godhead halo!
Upon embellished silver
sanctification sanctimonious plate!
Hail Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
a General a Turkish army officer,
a revolutionary statesman a writer,
founder of modern Republic of Turkey
first president of fledgling eagle country
enduring defeating sea aggressive invasions!
Ottoman Empire assaulted on all frontiers
Atatürk led Turkish national movement
throughout Turkish War of Independence!
Established provisional government in Ankara,
defeated all forces sent by invading Allies!
Atatürk’s successful military campaigns
led to liberation creation of new found country
to proud establishment of modern Turkey!
In memory in a grateful nation
Atatürk’s statutes statutes must stand tall!
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stands
a towering figure of the 20th Century!
“Among the great leaders of history,
few have achieved so much in so short period,
transformed the life of a nation as decisively, ...
given such profound inspiration to the world at large.”
poem by Terence George Craddock
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Armenia, Armenia
After the great flood Noah’s ark landed
on Mount Ararat, says the Bible.
Nowadays, the snow-capped summit
of the mountain soars over Yerevan.
Although the dormant volcanic cone
of Ararat lies south of the border,
in Turkish Anatolia,
the view of the mountain dominates
the skyline of the Armenian capital.
Most of the territory
that was once part of historic Armenia
belongs to Turkey today.
Under the yoke of the Muslim Ottomans,
the aspirations of the Christian Armenians
to obtain autonomy clashed
with the dreams of their rulers
to establish a pan-Turkish Empire.
In the 19th century the government
of the crumbling Ottoman Empire
started a campaign to wipe out
the Armenian population.
It perpetrated a genocide,
which reached its peak
during the First World War.
In 1908 an extremist wing
of the Union and Progress Party,
the Young Turks, came to power
in the Ottoman Empire.
They rejected demands for ethnic autonomy
and launched a systematic state organized attack
on the Armenian community.
It began on April 24,1915,
when the Ottoman authorities arrested
some 250 Armenian leaders in Istanbul
and murdered them.
Then armed Turks began uprooting men,
women and children from their homes.
Rape and murder became a commonplace.
Depriving them food and water, Turkish squads
forced Armenian communities to march
through the deserts of Syria where they died
of dehydration, starvation and exhaustion.
Hundreds of eyewitnesses
from all over the world recorded
and documented state-supported massacres.
In 1915, for example, Leslie Davis,
the American consul in Kharput, reported
that 10,000 bodies of murdered Armenians
had been discovered near Lake Göeljuk.
In the same year Giacomo Gorrini,
the Italian consul in Trabzon, testified:
“I saw thousands of innocent women
and children placed on boats,
which were capsized in the Black Sea”.
Armenians call the mass slaughter
of their people Metz Yeghérn, the calamity.
Historians estimate the number of those
who lost their lives
in the great Armenian tragedy at 1.5 million.
The government of Turkey, however,
refuses to admit that a state organized genocide
took place.
In the fall of 2001 Pope John Paul II
paid a visit to the former Soviet Republic
of Armenia. He laid a rose at the eternal flame
in the memorial of Yerevan
and prayed for the victims:
The lament that rises from this place,
The call of the dead from the depth of Metz Yeghérn,
The cry of innocent blood
That pleads like the blood of Abel,
Like Rachel weeping for her children
Because they are no more.
poem by Paul Hartal
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The Ottoman
At the foot of my parents bed was an ottoman,
it was old fashioned, but solid and sound.
My father said it had been locked for a reason,
to stop children from nosing around.
This unusual ottoman kind of haunted me
and I was curious to look inside.
One morning I found a key in the green house
and it looked like the ottoman’s size
Within minutes I was face to face with the ottoman,
the key turned the lock, so I took a peek.
A burning light shone at the bottom of a stairway;
so this was the secret my father wished to keep.
My burning curiosity had got the better of me,
so I lifted the lid wider and got inside.
Down the steps I ventured with caution,
my ears twitching, and eyes open wide.
The steps led down a narrow spiral staircase,
which met a corridor, with a door at the end.
Behind the creaky door was another corridor
and a wooden stairway which I did ascend.
This led me back up to the ottoman,
which was strange, but had to accept.
I decided to mull this over in my bedroom,
but someone was sleeping, so out there I crept.
I couldn’t believe it when I saw myself sleeping,
but then my father called me down for tea.
He and mum smiled, and dad ruffled my hair,
it was then that I came face to face with me.
I ran from the kitchen, up to my parent’s bedroom;
into the ottoman, and returned the way I came.
Everyone was sitting down for tea when I joined them
and dad knew, that I wouldn’t be disobeying him again.
poem by Orlando Belo
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My Summer Wine… by Meena Mustafa
Press the grapes and let it pour
Let my wild imagination explore
The rosy flush, beneath the tree
As I sip in harmony.
Slender neck all green and gold
I lift the glass and see it pour
Name it 'Sherry' or call it 'Port'
The feeling so great as it runs down your throat.
Inhibitions lost, thoughts surrender
Makes me intoxicated and I just wander
Lonely as a cloud or rough as the sea
Wish people are sincere and honest like me
poem by Meena Mustafa
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Serendipity By Meena Mustafa
Serendipity By Meena Mustafa
It all starts from the seed that is sown
From the womb to this world, that we all have known
The journey of what is called Ups and Downs
Such is life until it turns around
When you least expect it and done with life
Serendipity strikes and takes you by surprise
This is what is called Luck by chance
The man of my dreams….with who I now dance
So never give up and hope for the best
Serendipity will strike…just believe in yourself
God puts you through a test to see where you stand
Patience is a virtue…we don't understand
We all have cried where none could see us cry
But after the rain comes the rainbow up in the sky
I now look forward to the days ahead of us
Spending life together and in God I trust.
poem by Meena Mustafa
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Osman Pazvantoglou
A begot of Bosnia Province, 'son of the guard',
mercenary in service to Wallachian Prince Nicholas
Mavrogenes, friend to Rigas Feraios Greek Bard,
revolts an army of mercenaries rebels to amass.
Freed from Ottoman Sultan Selim, acts independent,
his state recognized by Western Europe diplomats,
In 1798, held territories spread from river Danub
to the Balkan Mountains, from Belgrade to Varna.
Osman, warrior of North, fierce, in deathly defeat,
in deathly victory, honored by a Glory transient,
wins in Vidin, loses in Smederovo, fear to transmit
a new Carpathian Vlad Tepes' vindicatory punishment.
Defeats a 100,000 soldier army of Huseyin Kucuk,
ruthless warrior, raiding territories in blind moksha
fighting Sultans Ottoman, and Serbs, win, or lose
as in 1798 the Sultan is forced to make him a pasha.
Raids in Wallachia, against Alexander Mourouzis,
the Phanariote Prince, who in 1800, resigns to Selim,
Osman's pasvangii troops, burn all Craiova houses,
in 1802 Prince Michael Soutzos of Bucchurest deposes.
Blind, indiscriminate absolutism, Osman's warlords
In 1809, retaliation campaign of Oltenian hajduks
led by Iancu Jianu were victorious, for Romanians,
as Osman raids are recalled as extremely ill and old.
As many charismatic rulers, Osman the warlord,
missed the opportunity to organize a state based
on traditional values, fought ambiguously and lost
the trust of Balcanians, who condemned his raids.
poem by Giorgio Veneto
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Cornerstones
Gibran left an Empire decaying
in ashes of former greatness.
Who will come as phoenix to nation
reborn, growing steadily in strength?
Moulding itself in virtue’s light
seeking crystal rays of clear vision.
Must many bring cornerstones together
for construction of a monument’s making?
Master builder cannot build
on gigantean scale alone.
To build an edifice to mankind
takes co-operative efforts of many hands.
How is it O Lebanon! Splinter cast free
of encroaching empires’ dominance
that war has come to tear your heart?
From heaven’s height O Beirut
do tears fall of Gibran’s weeping.
In your streets do your children die emasculated
stricken with hunger’s pain, diseases’ clawing hand.
Though exiled by masters of a former empire
Gibran never left you O Lebanon.
His body was ever cloaked with garment
of your ways his heart, ever full
with a father’s love O Lebanon.
Where are his sons Oh country of his love?
To comfort children of that love in need.
To stay bloody hand tearing a noble heart,
to lead toward prosperity and rejoicing.
Where O Lebanon! And where is promise?
Vision his awakened dream foretold overflowing.
Come new nations
of Empires ancient origin
as stranger walking streets
beyond antiquated walls.
Crushing inwards
are confining
mounds of rubble.
Future cities
have outgrown
their necessity.
In mosque and bazaar also pass
heralded, shadow of new age.
Paying homage to belief to tradition
which is upheld in all found good.
But swift and mighty be axe
to cut out cleanly,
creeping rotting wood.
For a strong nation
facing a demanding age;
Cannot stand
on weak foundations
time’s undermined.
Like prophets chosen of Allah
calming waves
of an encroaching hungry sea
are those enlightened
hearing the stirring of a coming voice.
When will you hear O Lebanon?
When will you gather fruit
prepared of your prophet?
Gladly eat of love’s gift
to lighten centuries’ burden?
Are not all races of man
starving simultaneously as one?
But then children
yours was a political
Lebanon’s problems.
His was Lebanon
of natural beauty.
Shrouds of ash and smoke burn
like funeral fires.
Hide face of the moon.
May wisdom’s seed blossom
in the garden of your soul.
Khalil Gibran was born in the Christian Maronite town of Bsharri in Lebanon, then part of the Ottoman Empire in decline, the remnant of which became the Republic of Turkey, under the leadership of Generals like Kazim Karabekir and Mustafa Kamel; who became Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Gibran’s mother was the daughter of a Maronite priest and priests taught Gibran about the Bible, and Arabic and Syriac languages. Maronite Christian’s spoke a dialect of Aramic and Christian Aramaic is still the liturgical language of the Maronite Church. Gibran returned to his homeland, at age fifteen, to study at a Maronite institute in Beirut. Gibran supported Arabic as a national language for Syria and wrote the famous poem ‘Pity The Nation’.
poem by Terence George Craddock
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A gypsy (fortune teller) by Meena Mustafa
A room I entered of fortune and dreams
A mystic world, now it seems
Hoping to find answers, I followed my heart
A gypsy woman to read my stars
She lay before me some scattered bones
And talked about ruins and magic stones
Then she gazed into the crystal ball
Getting some answers to her call
A vision of a dream, started to form
Shaping into reality as she performed
'Teller of fortune, holder of hearts'
'Tell me what lies beneath the cards'
She got some answers as mystery unfolds
Fear not for I see your heart is of gold
Good days are ahead so just behold!
You will find answers that I was told
The sky is your fortune; you'll find your way
Forget your sorrows and dream each day
Smell the flowers that bloom in the fields
So many broken hearts have healed
So fear no more and open up your heart
To a new beginning all from the start.
poem by Meena Mustafa
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Singing Birds Are Endangered Species!
Singing bird's songs
enjoyed,
wonderful melody, wonderful words,
Rhapsodical Sometimes,
More often romantic!
A power hungry,
another powerful
both listen a while,
They want the bird to sing for them!
Now the bird has to stop singing,
Or should think of flying far away!
Power hungry will kill
or powerful will,
Singing bird ability of throat
Is its own enemy,
Two hands are ready to squeeze,
Two blades ready to cut,
Singing bird's throat often
squeezed,
Several died,
not even found in history,
they fear even that bird's story!
For it sings only truth,
Singing birds throat is cut,
Because it can't keep its mouth shut!
Poor bird! Its talent,
gifted voice became
its own enemy,
Not even they are listed
Though singing birds are endangered species!
poem by Ramdas Bhandarkar
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Unyielding heart
Since he died,
her days are full.
Life goes quickly
and so it should
Since he died she toils,
works longer hours
has more hobbies
and new friends.
Since he died
her throat is tight
she hardly sleeps
the gap is wide.
Since he died
she reminisces,
recalls his kisses,
those warm full lips.
Since he died
her heart still beats
it will not stop ___
It defies her.
poem by Ruth Walters
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The Birth of Holy Quran
The angels gathered and Allah proclaimed
The Quran will guide you as explained
Ask HIM for forgiveness…for tonight is the night
The night of Meeraj, when the Holy Book came to light
It's the birth of Holy Quran that teaches to cultivate love
And not massacre or repugnance towards people on this earth
It's the night when Prophet Muhammad travelled the seven skies
To bring joyous tidings and Quran for us to recite
Islam is a religion of peace, yet some have gone astray
No religion teaches to kill as some may portray
It's a book of blessings sent from heaven above
So follow the righteous path and let Allah be the judge.
poem by Meena Mustafa
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If I Lived A Thousand Years
If I lived a thousand years
What would change for me?
My existence is all that is worth
To have my son with me
An angel sent from heaven above
to help me be so strong
Who makes my world so beautiful
when things go so wrong
Who lights up a candle
Little hands are raised
In prayers that God may hear
to 'Keep my mom safe'
poem by Meena Mustafa
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Science is the only true guide in life.
quote by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (22 September 1924)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Garbage Can
Life is sometimes not as planned
What could be worse than a garbage can
For you are tossed and thrown away
just like the garbage to rot each day
Taken for granted by a ladies man
A woman is mistreated as much as she can
Love forsaken and lust Oozes out...
To put away his filth without any doubt
In the name of love this game is played
And it is defined as masquerade
The clock turns 8 and it's time to leave
The garbage is out and the man at ease
poem by Meena Mustafa
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A Maiden To Her Mirror
He said he loved me! Then he called my hair
Silk threads wherewith sly Cupid strings his bow,
My cheek a rose leaf fallen on new snow;
And swore my round, full throat would bring despair
To Venus or to Psyche.
Time and care
Will fade these locks; the merry god, I know,
Uses no grizzled cords upon his bow.
How will it be when I, no longer fair,
Plead for his kiss with cheeks, whence long ago
The early snowflakes melted quite away,
The rose leaf died – and in whose sallow clay
Lie the deep sunken tracks of life’s gaunt crow?
When this full throat shall wattle fold on fold,
Like some ripe peach left drying on a wall,
Or like a spent accordion, when all
Its music has exhaled – will love grow cold?
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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If I could travel back in time
If only I could travel back in time
When my youth was all at its prime
I'd start all over from the scratch
Just to find my perfect match
I'd be Cleopatra laden with jewels
The queen of Kingdom that ever did dwell
I'd bathe in fragrance, petals and rose
The Queen of Egypt, Anthony would have chose
My serving maids would clad me in silk
And scrub me all over by pouring milk
My life would be on a primrose path
Luxuries would surround me and never would last
I would not have worries to pay my bills
If my prince charming came galloping down the hill
He'd take me by surprise and make me his queen
If only this was a reality and not just a dream :)
poem by Meena Mustafa
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Freedom and indedendence form my character.
quote by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (24 April 1921)
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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